AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

&
""
Latest by
  • Umun Dam Enters Severe Drought Stage; Alternative Water Supply Expanded in Daegu and Gyeongsan
    Umun Dam Enters 'Severe' Drought Stage; Alternative Water Supply Expanded in Daegu and Gyeongsan 경북 청도군 운문댐이 가뭄 '심각' 단계에 진입했다. 정부는 대체 용수 공급을 확대하는 등 용수 확보 대책을 강화하기로 했다.기후에너지환경부는 15일 0시를 기해 운문댐의 가뭄 단계를 기존 '주의'에서 '심각'으로 상향했다고 밝혔다. 이에 따라 댐 저수량 확보를 위한 긴축 운영 체제를 유지한다.올해 운문댐 유역에는 평년보다 적은 비가 내렸다. 올해 누적 강우량은 371㎜로 평년의 약 64% 수준에 머물렀다. 특히 홍수기인 지난 6월 21일부터 7월 14일까지 내린 비는 18㎜에 불과해 예년 같은 기간 평균 강우량의 8% 수준에 그쳤다.댐 저수량도 감소세가 이어지고 있다. 현재 운문댐 저수량은 4774만t으로 평년의 약 61% 수준이다. 하루 평균 29만t의 용수를 공급하는 반면 유입량은 16만t 수준에 머물면서 저수량 감소가 계속되고 있다.이에 정부는 운문댐에서 공급하던 생활·공업용수 일부를 다른 수계로 전환해 댐 부담을 줄일 계획이다. 대구시는 낙동강을 활용한 대체 공급량을 현재 하루 5만t에서 최대 10만7000t까지 늘리고 경산시는 금호강을 통한 공급량을 하루 4000t에서 최대 6000t으로 확대한다.가뭄이 장기화돼 운문댐 수위가 추가로 하락할 경우에는 금호강 비상공급시설도 탄력적으로 운영한다. 이를 통해 생활·공업용수를 하루 최대 12만t까지 추가 공급할 수 있도록 대비한다는 방침이다.정부는 수계 전환과 하천유지용수 조정 등을 통해 현재 생활·공업용수 공급에는 차질이 없을 것으로 보고 있다. 다만 운문댐 용수를 공급받는 대구시와 경산시, 영천시, 청도군, 칠곡군에는 생활·공업용수 가뭄 단계를 '경계'로 발령하고 용수 관리체계를 강화하기로 했다.송호석 기후부 수자원정책관은 "저수량과 용수 공급 상황을 지속적으로 점검하면서 필요한 대응 조치를 신속히 시행해 국민 생활과 산업 활동에 차질이 발생하지 않도록 관리하겠다"고 말했다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 09:44:00
  • VERDY to Engage with Children on Final Day of Exhibition
    VERDY to Engage with Children on Final Day of Exhibition Global graphic artist VERDY, based in Japan, will engage with visitors on the final day of his exhibition.The Lotte Museum announced on July 15 that VERDY will participate in a children's educational program, 'Kids Atelier,' on the closing day of the exhibition 'I Believe in Me' on July 19.VERDY has expanded the exhibition experience by directly communicating with visitors of various ages, culminating in a final celebration on the closing day.'Kids Atelier' is an interactive program where children can create their own T-shirts featuring their unique typography and graphics after viewing the exhibition. On that day, VERDY will share the creative process with the children and discuss the thoughts behind his works as the exhibition concludes.'I Believe in Me,' which opened in April, marks VERDY's first solo exhibition at a museum. The exhibition features over 250 works, including more than 100 crayon drawings and 24 large-scale three-dimensional pieces. It showcases his artistic journey from graphic design to various media such as drawing, sculpture, and installation, capturing the interest of young audiences.Throughout the exhibition, the artist has met with visitors of all ages. He shared insights into his creative world and philosophy during artist talks and revealed his working process in a creative session in collaboration with Apple, utilizing digital devices.The exhibition 'I Believe in Me' will run until July 19 at the Lotte Museum. Details on how to participate in 'Kids Atelier' can be found on the Lotte Museum's official website.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 09:40:00
  • South Koreas Military Academy Considers Four-Year Integrated Education at Daejeon Jowon Base
    South Korea's Military Academy Considers Four-Year Integrated Education at Daejeon Jowon Base The Ministry of National Defense is reportedly considering the establishment of a four-year integrated education institution at the Daejeon Jowon Base, which would combine the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies into a single National Military Academy. According to military sources on July 15, the Ministry is exploring the creation of the National Military Academy at Jowon Base, where students would undergo four years of integrated education. Located in Yuseong District, Daejeon, Jowon Base is home to a concentration of military education and training facilities, including the Army University, Navy University, Air Force University, and the Joint Military University. Initially, the Ministry had considered a '2+2 model' where cadets would be selected for common education in their first two years at the National Military Academy and then receive specialized training in their respective branches during their final two years. However, the integrated four-year education plan at Jowon Base has gained traction due to considerations for enhancing joint capabilities. The plan is to have cadets reside at Jowon Base for four years, with specialized military education introduced for upperclassmen to strengthen expertise in their respective branches. The Ministry is also reportedly examining a long-term vision to integrate other educational institutions, such as the National Military Nursing Academy and the Defense Advanced Technology Academy, into the National Military Academy, aiming to develop it into a comprehensive university encompassing various colleges.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 09:40:00
  • SK hynix shares rally on bullish Barclays report despite ADR premium
    SK hynix shares rally on bullish Barclays report despite ADR premium SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) -Shares of SK hynix zoomed higher at the opening bell in Seoul on Wednesday, recovering from this week's earnings and valuation-driven selloff after a bullish report from Barclays reignited optimism over the AI memory cycle. As of 9:30 a.m., shares of the Korean chipmaker were up 12 percent at 2,139,000 won, extending an overnight 27.3 percent rally in its Nasdaq-listed American depositary receipts (ADRs) and Tuesday's gain of more than 3 percent in Seoul. The rebound followed Barclays' initiation of coverage on SK hynix's newly listed ADRs with an Overweight rating and a $330 price target, implying about 70 percent upside from Tuesday's close. Analyst Simon Coles said the memory industry was entering a prolonged supply shortage as artificial intelligence investment continued to outpace supply growth, allowing SK hynix to maintain strong pricing power over the next several years. Barclays expects supply shortages to deepen through 2027 and remain tight into 2028, arguing that the market continues to underestimate both high-bandwidth memory pricing and SK hynix's earnings potential. The bank also said SK hynix could hold cash equivalent to more than 40 percent of its current market capitalization by the end of 2027, providing ample room for additional share buybacks that could further lift earnings per share. It dismissed concerns over China's memory industry as a near-term threat, saying Chinese DRAM would have only a limited impact on the global market unless major cloud service providers begin deploying it in AI data centers. The report helped lift sentiment after SK hynix shares came under pressure earlier this week on concerns that the stock had run ahead of fundamentals following its record ADR listing and the broader correction in AI-related semiconductor shares. The optimism was reflected even more strongly in New York, where SK hynix's ADRs continued to trade at a hefty premium over the Seoul-listed shares. The ADR closed at $193.92 overnight after surging 27.3 percent, putting it at roughly a 45 percent premium to the equivalent value of the common shares in Seoul. The gap has widened sharply from about 3 percent when the ADRs were priced at $149 last Friday. Analysts attributed the unusually large premium to limited arbitrage opportunities, as the ADRs cannot be freely converted into Korean-listed shares, allowing strong U.S. demand to drive prices higher. The premium has also been supported by the launch of options trading on the ADRs, opening the stock to a broader pool of institutional investors and hedge funds in the world's largest derivatives market. The Nasdaq debut has also sparked strong interest among Korean retail investors. According to brokerage industry data, about 84,000 Korean investors bought roughly 1.36 million ADRs worth 338.9 billion won ($245 million) through nine major domestic brokerages on the July 10 listing day alone. Including other brokerages, the number of investors is estimated to have approached 100,000, with holdings exceeding 400 billion won. Retail investors also continued buying SK hynix shares in Seoul, betting the U.S. listing would support a higher global valuation despite recent volatility. SK hynix raised $26.5 billion through its ADR offering, making it the second-largest equity issuance in U.S. market history after SpaceX and the largest ever by a foreign company. The strong recovery in both Seoul and New York suggested investors remain convinced that the AI-driven memory upcycle has further room to run despite recent concerns over valuations. 2026-07-15 09:37:42
  • Shinhan Card Launches Exclusive Card for 350,000 Chung-Ang University Alumni
    Shinhan Card Launches Exclusive Card for 350,000 Chung-Ang University Alumni Shinhan Card announced on July 15 that it has partnered with the Chung-Ang University Alumni Association to launch the exclusive 'Chung-Ang Shinhan Card' for alumni.The card is designed under the concept of 'Pride of Chung-Ang in a Card' and is available in three types: The BEST-XO, Discount Plan+, and PLi.The 'The BEST-XO Chung-Ang Shinhan Card' offers premium benefits. It includes a My Shinhan Points accumulation option for points earned at domestic and international merchants, as well as a SkyPass option for accumulating Korean Air miles.The 'Discount Plan+ Chung-Ang Shinhan Card' features discounts tailored to consumer patterns. It provides up to 20% off on food and beverage discounts by time of day, everyday shopping discounts at supermarkets, regular payment discounts for apartment management fees, and annual spending discounts for car maintenance.Lastly, the 'PLi Chung-Ang Shinhan Card' is a practical option that offers a 0.9% discount at all domestic merchants without monthly spending requirements or discount limits. It also includes four additional discount coupons per month and a personalized service that rewards My Shinhan Points based on usage frequency at the most frequented merchants from the previous month.Annual fees are set at 297,000 won for the domestic-only My Shinhan Points version of The BEST-XO card and 300,000 won for the international version. The SkyPass version costs 317,000 won and 320,000 won, respectively. The Discount Plan+ card has an annual fee of 50,000 won for both domestic and international use, while the PLi card costs 15,000 won for domestic use and 18,000 won for international use.Alumni can apply for the card through the Chung-Ang University Alumni Association's website after verifying their alumni status.A Shinhan Card representative stated, "This will strengthen the connection among the 350,000 Chung-Ang University alumni and we will continue to expand customer-based services that reflect the characteristics of the university and alumni community, leveraging the synergy of Shinhan Financial Group."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 09:36:00
  • Kias Kim Soo-gon Achieves Grand Master Status with 4,000 Sales
    Kia's Kim Soo-gon Achieves Grand Master Status with 4,000 Sales Kia announced that Kim Soo-gon, a senior auto consultant at the Ulsan Central branch in Gyeongnam, has reached a cumulative sales total of 4,000 vehicles, earning him the title of 'Grand Master.'The Grand Master title is awarded to auto consultants who achieve 4,000 cumulative sales.Kim, who joined the company in 1997, has averaged 137 sales per year over the past 29 years. He achieved the milestone of 4,000 sales on June 1, becoming the 38th person in history to receive the Grand Master honor.Kia presented Kim with a plaque and a reward vehicle.Kim expressed gratitude, stating, "This is the result of the valuable support from all the customers I have met over the years. I will continue to provide the best service to repay their trust."Additionally, Kia has implemented various reward systems, such as the Long-Term Sales Honor Award and the Kia Star Awards, to boost the pride of auto consultants working in sales and to encourage healthy competition.Through the Long-Term Sales Honor Award, auto consultants are recognized with titles for cumulative sales milestones: 'Star' for 2,000 sales, 'Master' for 3,000, 'Grand Master' for 4,000, and 'Great Master' for 5,000.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 09:36:00
  • British Princess Anne highlights longstanding bilateral ties at Seoul reception
    British Princess Anne highlights longstanding bilateral ties at Seoul reception SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - Britain's Princess Anne, who is on a three-day visit to South Korea, stressed the strong and enduring partnership between the U.K. and South Korea during a reception hosted by the British Embassy in Seoul on Tuesday. The reception, held at the Four Seasons Hotel in central Seoul, brought together government officials, diplomats, business leaders, academics, cultural figures and youth representatives to celebrate the longstanding ties between the two countries. The princess said she was "pleased" to visit South Korea "for the fourth time," adding that each visit had deepened her understanding of the country. She also praised South Korea's rapid development, saying she had been "impressed" by the country's transformation over the years. Highlighting the long-standing ties between the two countries, she stressed the importance of bilateral relations and called for continued efforts to deepen cooperation in various areas including maritime cooperation. As part of such efforts, Anne visited HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' shipyard in Ulsan and toured its facilities earlier in the day. Recalling the late Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Andong in South Korea in 1999, she described it as an example of the longstanding people-to-people ties that underpin bilateral relations, adding that future cooperation should continue to be built on mutual respect, innovation and a willingness to learn from one another. Tuesday night's reception also featured members of K-pop girl group NMIXX, who have been promoting the British Embassy in Seoul's campaign for girls' empowerment. 2026-07-15 09:35:37
  • HMM leads California orange shipments to South Korea for fourth year
    HMM leads California orange shipments to South Korea for fourth year SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - HMM, South Korea's largest container carrier, said it had transported more California-grown oranges to the country than any rival for a fourth consecutive year. The Seoul-based shipping line revealed Wednesday that it carried 42 percent of all California oranges imported into South Korea this year, or about 3,060 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), according to Piers Data compiled by U.S. maritime research firm JOC. The figure marked the top position in the segment. HMM has held the lead since 2023, when it commanded a 25 percent share, or about 2,380 TEU, and has widened its margin even as overall orange imports declined. The company attributed the gains to steady container supply and tight vessel scheduling. Oranges and other perishables move in refrigerated "reefer" containers, prized as high-value cargo because they demand meticulous temperature control to preserve freshness across weeks at sea. HMM has leaned on that expertise to court new business, shifting premium goods such as Washington cherries from costly air freight to the ocean. The carrier is also riding the global appetite for Korean culture, ferrying rising volumes of K-food and K-beauty exports in reefer boxes. More recently, it has used a new West African feeder network, built on a hub-and-spoke model, to ship small domestic mackerel to a market where the fish outsells Russian and Japanese rivals on price. "As reefer transport technology advances, the range of goods is diversifying and the pace of change is quickening," said an HMM spokesperson. "We plan to improve profitability by expanding into new, high-value markets." 2026-07-15 09:32:34
  • KOSPI Could Exceed 10,000 Points, New Forecast from Analyst Who Predicted Recent Drop
    KOSPI Could Exceed 10,000 Points, New Forecast from Analyst Who Predicted Recent Drop Amid a recent sharp decline in the KOSPI, investor sentiment has soured, drawing renewed attention to a report from a securities firm that accurately predicted the domestic stock market's peak two months ago. The analyst who made that prediction now states, "The KOSPI has technically reached a bottom," suggesting the possibility of surpassing 10,000 points in the long term, which has piqued investor interest.Lee Jae-man, head of global investment analysis at Hana Securities, indicated in a report titled "KOSPI, Now Entering the 10,000P Era" released in May that a key signal of a bull market would be when SK Hynix's market capitalization surpasses that of Samsung Electronics.At that time, he analyzed that the phenomenon of SK Hynix, which has lower profit forecasts than Samsung Electronics for 2026-2027, leading in market capitalization, is a typical sign of market overheating.Indeed, SK Hynix's market capitalization exceeded that of Samsung Electronics for the first time in June, coinciding with the KOSPI breaking through the 9,100 mark, marking a historical peak. However, the KOSPI subsequently underwent significant corrections, leading to a sharp decline in investor sentiment.Having accurately predicted the market peak, Lee has now released a new analysis stating, "The current market has technically entered a low point." He diagnosed that the recent decline is more indicative of an 'oversold condition' due to a rapid contraction in investor sentiment rather than a deterioration in corporate performance or a collapse of economic fundamentals.Considering the long-term growth potential of domestic companies, he maintained that the KOSPI has ample room for recovery and could challenge levels beyond 10,000 points, potentially reaching as high as 11,000 points in the long run.He supported this outlook with projections of corporate earnings and historical average price-to-earnings ratios (PER). Applying the expected net income of KOSPI-listed companies for 2027 and the historical average PER suggests that a KOSPI index exceeding 10,000 points is theoretically possible.However, opinions on this forecast are sharply divided in the market.Retail investors who have suffered significant losses in the recent downturn are cautiously optimistic about the hopeful outlook but remain concerned about volatility.Online comments reflect this sentiment: "I’m just getting through today with mental victories," "If it goes back to 9,000, I’ll never invest in stocks again," "If we don’t address the leverage issue, foreign investors will continue to shake the market," "We need to set stop-loss criteria rather than just waiting for a rebound," and "In the market, responding is more important than predicting. Managing cash reserves should be a priority."Some investors specifically pointed to leveraged ETFs and program trading as factors behind the excessive market volatility, expressing concerns that without structural improvements, high volatility could persist even after a rebound.Conversely, some view the current correction as a necessary pause for a long-term upward trend, suggesting that investors consider gradual purchases of quality stocks.Meanwhile, analysts predict that while short-term volatility may continue, future corporate performance, the global semiconductor market, and changes in foreign investment will be key variables determining the direction of the domestic stock market in the second half of the year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 09:32:00
  • Hyundai Unveils Making-of Video for Hope as Film Opens with 600,000 Tickets Sold
    Hyundai Unveils Making-of Video for 'Hope' as Film Opens with 600,000 Tickets Sold Hyundai Motor sponsored the release of director Na Hong-jin's new film 'Hope' on July 15. To coincide with the film's debut, Hyundai released a character making video titled 'Sung-ae,' showcasing lead actress Jung Ho-yeon's journey as she takes on her first action role alongside the Hyundai 'Stella.''Hope' is Na Hong-jin's first sci-fi action thriller, following his acclaimed works such as 'The Chaser,' 'The Yellow Sea,' and 'The Wailing.' Set in the remote village of Hopohang near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the film depicts the struggle of individuals confronting an unidentified entity.The film was officially invited to compete at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, where it received positive reviews and a lengthy standing ovation following its world premiere.The making-of video features Jung Ho-yeon obtaining a Class 1 driver's license to perform car stunts, drifting, and executing J-turns in the Hyundai Stella. It also includes behind-the-scenes footage of the film's car chase scenes and episodes involving the Stella.The Hyundai Stella, a heritage model, appears as the police car driven by the characters Beom-seok (played by Hwang Jung-min) and Sung-ae (Jung Ho-yeon). It plays a central role in the film's car chase scenes, supporting the period atmosphere and narrative.Hyundai explained that this collaboration is part of a partnership strategy to convey the brand's heritage and cultural values through content.In addition to 'Hope,' Hyundai continues to engage in brand activities utilizing film content, including its own short film 'Night Fishing' and 'Bedford Park,' which received a Special Jury Award at the Sundance Film Festival.Meanwhile, Na Hong-jin's new film 'Hope' surpassed 600,000 pre-sale tickets on its opening day. According to distributor Plus M Entertainment, as of 7 a.m. on July 15, the film recorded 600,361 pre-sale tickets, according to the integrated computer network of the Korean Film Council.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 09:28:00